Home Building
Des Moines, IA
Building a new home in Des Moines means fitting one of the city’s four house types and paying a permit priced by finished square footage. The city also offers tax abatement on qualifying new homes. Here is what the Permit and Development Center requires, from submittal to inspections.
- Des Moines at a glance
Des Moines growth and housing at a glance
Des Moines counted 214,133 people in 2020, its first census above the 1960 total. New home figures come from the city’s fee schedule and house type checklists.
214,133
First count above 1960
9 or 10 years
Abatement inside the targeted area
60.5%
Owner-occupied rate
2015 IECC
Energy code for new homes
$1,081.50 to $1,802.50
Permit, by finished size
288 sq ft
Smallest required garage
33 psf
Ground snow load to design for
7,500 sq ft
Smallest House Type B lot
- Permits and rules
Building new in Des Moines: permits, house types and fees
Every new home needs a permit, and the fee depends on finished floor area, not cost. Your design must match a house type allowed in your zoning district. The city reviews plans against a detailed checklist and assigns one inspector for the whole build.
Permit fee by finished size
The January 1, 2026 schedule charges $1,081.50 for a home of 1,200 finished square feet or less. Homes from 1,201 to 2,000 square feet pay $1,390.50, and larger homes pay $1,802.50. Basement and garage areas do not count. Trade permits add $231.75 electrical, $128.75 mechanical and $206.00 plumbing.
House types A to D
Since the December 2019 zoning update, single-household homes in neighborhood districts must match House Type A, B, C or D. Each type has its own lot, setback and design rules. Types A, B and C each require a garage of at least 288 square feet, with accessory buildings in the rear or side yard.
Lot rules, using House Type B
House Type B, allowed in N3a and N3b, needs a lot at least 60 feet wide and 7,500 square feet in area. The house must be at least 35 feet wide and one or two stories, with one paved driveway. A front-facing garage door can take no more than 30 percent of the facade.
What goes in the plan set
Submit the general checklist plus the House Type A, B, C or D form that matches your design and district. The forms say they are for convenience and the codified rules win. The site plan must show a public sidewalk at least 5 feet wide, and the set needs a prescriptive energy review.
Energy code and abatement
Des Moines enforces the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code. New homes can earn tax abatement: 5 or 6 years declining outside the targeted area, 9 or 10 years inside it. The longer schedules need extra wall insulation, at least R-20, or a Level 2 EV charging setup in the garage.
Inspections, egress and fees
One inspector is assigned to each new home under the Combination Inspection program and handles every trade. Every new home needs an emergency escape opening in the basement. Impact fees and sewer or water connection fees are not listed in the city fee schedule; utility providers may charge separately.
- Our process
How Busy Builders builds your Des Moines new home
We start with your lot’s zoning district on Show Me My House, since it decides which house type you can build. Our plans follow the city’s submittal checklist and the matching house type form. During the build, one city inspector covers every trade, and licensed electricians, plumbers and HVAC contractors we coordinate handle those systems. If you want a longer abatement schedule, we plan the R-20 walls or the Level 2 EV charging setup from day one.
Busy Builders is a registered Iowa contractor, DIAL C140184. We have completed more than 1,285 projects across Central Iowa since 2020.
- Lot district and house type confirmed
- Plans built to the city checklist
- Abatement upgrades planned up front
House type to final inspection
- Achievement
Trusted Home Building Contractors in Des Moines, IA
- Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs About Home Building in Des Moines
What does it cost to build a house in Des Moines?
New homes start at about $150 per square foot. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. The city building permit adds $1,081.50 to $1,802.50 depending on finished size, plus electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits.
Which house type can I build on my Des Moines lot?
That depends on the lot’s zoning district. Single-household homes in the N districts must be House Type A, B, C or D, and each type is allowed only in certain districts. House Type B, for example, is permitted in N3a and N3b. Look up your district on Show Me My House, then use the matching checklist.
Does Des Moines charge impact fees on a new home?
None appear in the Permit and Development Center’s fee schedule. It lists no impact fee and no sewer or water connection fee. The building permit is the flat, size-based fee, and each trade permit is separate. Check with your water and sewer providers about any hookup costs before you budget.
Can I get a tax break on a new home in Des Moines?
Yes, if the home raises assessed value at least 5 percent and has all permits. Outside the targeted area, schedules run 5 or 6 years, declining. Inside it, they run 9 or 10 years, and Riverpoint West has a 6-year schedule. The longer options need R-20 walls or a Level 2 EV charger setup.
How long does it take to build a home in Des Moines?
It depends on design, size, season and how inspections line up, so we build a schedule around your plans before you commit. Winter matters here: the city will not schedule concrete inspections when the forecast calls for under 10 F within the next 24 hours. Ask us for a schedule built around your plans and start date.
Does a new Des Moines home need a garage?
For House Types A, B and C, yes. Each requires a garage of at least 288 square feet for a single-unit house. Accessory buildings belong in the rear or side yard. On a House Type B lot, a front-facing garage door can be no more than 30 percent of the front facade width.
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